It is said that Nepal’s history and culture lie in its temples. So when I was in Nepal, a visit to Pausnpatinath temple was on top of my list.
Dating back to the 5th century, Pausnpatinath temple is the oldest Hindu temple in the country and is an UNESCO heritage site. Nepal’s national deity – Lord Pashupatinath or Lord Shiva – is worshiped here. Located on the banks of Bagmati river in the eastern part of Kathmandu city, this temple is considered to be a masterpiece of Hindu architecture.
I hired a taxi from Thamel and it took me not more than 10 minutes to reach this iconic temple. The entire temple is beautifully carved with wooden rafters and its roofs are made up of gold and copper plating. I would have loved to scan each and every detail minutely but there was some festival going on. The temple was full of colorful devotees and a lot of rituals were being performed. It was perhaps not the best day to see the majestic grandeur of this temple, but it still was a wonderful experience!

Kathmandu Valley’s famous Patan durbar square, which was severely damaged by the deadly earthquake in 2015, is a must see place if you are in the city of Lalitpur.
Located at the center of the city, the square is home to a number of beautiful temples and idols that are guaranteed to turn you into cultural lovers.
Some of the important temples are Krishna Mandir, Bhimsen Temple and Vishwanath Temple. Thanks to its stunning architecture, this place is frequented by tourists and locals alike. No wonder, it is one of the UNESCO world Heritage Sites along with two other darbars – Kathmandu Durbar Square and Bhaktapur Durbar Square. The whole area is filled with colorful cafes, numerous art galleries and guest houses. I spent few hours there, gazing aimlessly at the abundant beauty of the place.

I wanted to do something wild on my birthday, so I arranged a meeting with deers and rhinos at the Nepal’s famous Chitwan National Park. I crossed the beautiful Rapti river to reach the main entrance of the Park, which is a World Heritage Site.
There I joined a group of eight tourists and a guide, on a jeep safari. The bumpy ride began in the hot and humid climate and we saw huge trees and an array of vegetation.

But no one looked excited for not being able to spot any wild animal. After almost one hour, our patience paid – we saw a couple of rhinos and deers. We also came across some very beautiful and colorful birds and langurs, much to the delight of my co-travelers.

There was a Crocodile Breeding Center too inside the park, but I chose to skip that as our jeep safari had already taken around five hours.

At the end I bid everyone goodbye and returned to my hotel at Sauraha Village, few meters away from the park. The whole area is replete with hotels, resorts, cafes and bars. So advance booking is not required even in peak season. I stayed at a small hotel and its owner had arranged everything for me, including the safari trip to the park.

Besides, many tour operators provide other activities such as bird watching, hiking and cycling. Two days are enough to explore the whole place. In the evening, the place becomes more lively and soothing. I reached Chitwan from Kathmandu via a deluxe bus. It took approximately five hours to reach there. If you are an avid wildlife photographer do carry a zoom lens. Also, do not forget to carry water bottle, sunscreen lotion and a hat.

Pokhara is one of the top tourists destinations of Nepal, providing a major boost to the Himalayan country’s tourism sector.

Pokhara got added to my itinerary during my Nepal trip on the advise of some of my friends. The city attracts a large number of tourists as it is the starting point for them to kick off their trek to the Annapurna mountain. Phewa Lake is one of the most attractive tourists spots in the city, offering stunning views.

During my two day-stay in Pokhara, I spent most of time on the bank of the lake, viewing endless sky and pristine water. A number of water-sports activities are conducted on daily basis for tourist at the lake. The prices of these activities are fixed so no scope of bargaining.

However, I opted not to indulge in any sports. When it comes to accommodations, the city is home to a number of hotels, hostels and resorts and one could easily avail them without much hassle. So advance booking is not required. A number of bars, cafes and restaurants will welcome you once you land there.

Interestingly, I found evening more relaxed and soothing than morning. Bikes and bicycles are available to explore the city, a place where I would like to come again and again.